Interior Ministry: Migrants who leave Israel within next week or two to receive $1,200 — or be expelled

June 9, 2012, 8:18 am

JERUSALEM (AP) — African migrants who entered Israel illegally will be given cash incentives if they leave on their own soon, or they will face expulsion, the Interior Ministry said Friday.

A tent city is being built to hold other migrants, the vast majority, who can stay for now, the ministry said.

About 60,000 Africans have trekked through Egypt and other Muslim countries to reach Israel over the past few years. Many are looking for work, while others are seeking political asylum.

A Jerusalem court has ruled that some 4,500 migrants, mostly from South Sudan, Ivory Coast and Mali, are to be expelled.

Continued at the link.

From the NYT,

Israeli Leader Pledges Hard Line on Migrants

Israel’s interior minister, Eli Yishai* of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, was quoted on Friday as saying that “the infiltrators, along with the Palestinians, will quickly bring us to the end of the Zionist dream.” Noting that Israel had its own health and welfare issues, he said, “We don’t need to import more problems from Africa.”

“Most of those people arriving here are Muslims who think the country doesn’t belong to us, the white man,” Mr. Yishai said in an interview with the newspaper Maariv.

Even so, there has been emotional debate here about the obligations of a country like Israel, largely founded by refugees. While opponents of the African influx say they worry about Israel’s future as a state with a Jewish majority, other Israelis have volunteered to help the asylum seekers and say that Israel, of all places, should show compassion toward those fleeing hardship.

* FYI: Eli Yishai happens to be the son of African immigrants himself.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

Interior Ministry: Migrants who leave Israel within next week or two to receive $1,200 — or be expelled

June 9, 2012, 8:18 am

JERUSALEM (AP) — African migrants who entered Israel illegally will be given cash incentives if they leave on their own soon, or they will face expulsion, the Interior Ministry said Friday.

A tent city is being built to hold other migrants, the vast majority, who can stay for now, the ministry said.

About 60,000 Africans have trekked through Egypt and other Muslim countries to reach Israel over the past few years. Many are looking for work, while others are seeking political asylum.

A Jerusalem court has ruled that some 4,500 migrants, mostly from South Sudan, Ivory Coast and Mali, are to be expelled.

Continued at the link.

From the NYT,

Israeli Leader Pledges Hard Line on Migrants

Israel’s interior minister, Eli Yishai* of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, was quoted on Friday as saying that “the infiltrators, along with the Palestinians, will quickly bring us to the end of the Zionist dream.” Noting that Israel had its own health and welfare issues, he said, “We don’t need to import more problems from Africa.”

“Most of those people arriving here are Muslims who think the country doesn’t belong to us, the white man,” Mr. Yishai said in an interview with the newspaper Maariv.

Even so, there has been emotional debate here about the obligations of a country like Israel, largely founded by refugees. While opponents of the African influx say they worry about Israel’s future as a state with a Jewish majority, other Israelis have volunteered to help the asylum seekers and say that Israel, of all places, should show compassion toward those fleeing hardship.

Does Israel belong to the white man? What is the goal of politicians, and there have been several, seeking to stir up racial hatred in this working class neighborhood and greater Israel?

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

Does Israel belong to the white man? What is the goal of politicians, and there have been several, seeking to stir up racial hatred in this working class neighborhood and greater Israel?

The question is, Do illegal immigrants belong in your state? Can they remain there illegally? What does this have to do with Black vs White. Israel brought in scores of Ethiopians. You are simply trying to create something that is not there.

this is not a "black" and "white" issue it is an issue of legal versus illegal immigration. are you in favor of illegal immigration into Israel? into any other countries? A simple yes or no will suffice.

By the way, Jews have only been "white" since the end of WWII and of course many of us are not "white" at all, since we come in all hues and shades. Israelis and Israeli Jews and non-Jews also come in all hues and shades. I know you have been to Israel and thus you have undoubtedly observed this fact, which leads one to wonder why you would post the statement you did.

Does Israel belong to the white man? What is the goal of politicians, and there have been several, seeking to stir up racial hatred in this working class neighborhood and greater Israel?

The question is, Do illegal immigrants belong in your state? Can they remain there illegally? What does this have to do with Black vs White. Israel brought in scores of Ethiopians. You are simply trying to create something that is not there.

In this thread, and others, Israeli politicians are being quoted making statements that promote racial hatred toward Africans in Tel Aviv. No one in these articles is quoting me. I'm not creating anything, I'm asking a valid question.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

this is not a "black" and "white" issue it is an issue of legal versus illegal immigration. are you in favor of illegal immigration into Israel? into any other countries? A simple yes or no will suffice.

By the way, Jews have only been "white" since the end of WWII and of course many of us are not "white" at all, since we come in all hues and shades. Israelis and Israeli Jews and non-Jews also come in all hues and shades. I know you have been to Israel and thus you have undoubtedly observed this fact, which leads one to wonder why you would post the statement you did.

Over time, I've gradually become White myself; a develpment that has left me confused and befuddled. As a Middle Easterner whose appearance blends in quite well anywhere in the region, I do know that there is no real homogenity there. However, this divisive tact is being taken by some Israeli politicians. Do they think it hits a nerve that they can exploit?

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

You are setting up strawmen, inciting racism, and making not so subtle accusations, other than that, I am sure that you are presenting fair questions all around.

The sources of the articles I've posted are the Time of Israel and the NYT. I don't represent either of them by posting articles from their pages. Are they accusing, inciting racism and setting up strawmen by reporting events and providing quotes?

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.